Author Biographies
Use the resources below to help you find biographies of Canadian and American authors.
Locating Author Biographies
For major authors, such as Jane Austen or Timothy Findley, the library will have autobiographies or biographies. Search for these in the library catalogue by subject.
e.g. Subject Search: Timothy Findley Biography
Key Reference Materials
American Writers: A Collection of Literary Biographies
810.3 A51u
This 4-volume set consists of 97 of the pamphlets originally published as the University of Minnesota pamphlets on American writers; some have been revised and updated.
British Writers: Classics
820.3 B862p
Covers 20 of the most influential works of British literature. Written in a clear, jargon-free style by experts in the field. Essays cover individual works, exploring the themes, characterization, use of language and other nuances of these enduring pieces of literature.
Contemporary Authors: A Bio-Bibliographical Guide to Current Writers in Fiction, General Nonfiction, Poetry, Journalism, Drama, Motion Pictures, Television and Other Fields
809 C76
Find biographical information on more than 130,000 modern novelists, poets, playwrights, nonfiction writers, journalists and scriptwriters. Sketches typically include personal information, contact information, career history, writings, biographical and critical sources, authors' comments, and informative essays about their lives and work. Available in print and electronic formats.
Dictionary of Literary Biography
809 D55
Systematically presents career biographies and criticism of writers from all eras and genres through volumes dedicated to specific types of literature and time periods. Available in print and electronic formats.
Feminist Writers
809 F32k
A selective encyclopedia of 300 feminist authors of fiction and nonfiction, Feminist Writers is international in scope, focusing on 20th-century authors writing in English. Introductory material provides a definition of feminist writing and its historical grounding.
Magill's Survey of World Literature
809 M195k
Originally published in 1993 (with 215 entries) and supplemented in 1995 (with 78 entries), this revised edition representing 45 non-Anglo countries now contains 380 signed articles ranging from five to eight pages in length and covering fiction and nonfiction authors from the sixth century B.C.E. to the 21st century. Available in print and electronic formats.
